Bedgebury Forest
Encyclopedia
Bedgebury Forest is a 10.5 square kilometres (2,594.6 acre) forest surrounding Bedgebury National Pinetum, near Flimwell
in Kent
. In contrast to the National Pinetum, which contains exclusively coniferous trees, the forest contains both deciduous and coniferous species. It forms part of the High Weald Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty
, and is one of the so-called "Seven Wonders Of The Weald". Bedgebury Forest has facilities for cycling
, mountain biking
, riding
, orienteering
and adventure play.
charter in AD 841, the name deriving from the Old English bycgan, meaning "buy", and the Kentish vecge, meaning "to bend or turn", possibly in reference to a stream.
Bedgebury Forest has always been wooded and is classed as an ancient woodland
. Heather
is present, which indicates that parts of the forest may have been managed as wooded heath
. Streams in the Forest show evidence of dams, storing water for the Wealden iron industry
and later the ornamental lakes on the Bedgebury Estate.
, Hawkhurst
and Flimwell
in the High Weald of Kent. It is situated on a high plateau, amongst the rolling hills of the Wealden Group
. The geology is mostly clay
and sandstone
, and the soil is poor and acidic
, which is the reason for the woodland's persistence: better, more accessible land was cleared for agriculture long ago. Bedgebury Forest falls within the catchment areas
of the rivers Medway
and Rother.
-affiliated group. The shortest is 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi), the longest is 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi), with maps provided by the Visitor Centre. Bedgebury Forest also hosts an annual 10 km charity run.
adventure course was installed in spring 2007.
Flimwell
The village of Flimwell is in the Rother District of East Sussex, in the civil parish of Ticehurst. It is located about two miles from the village of Ticehurst, close to the border with Kent...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. In contrast to the National Pinetum, which contains exclusively coniferous trees, the forest contains both deciduous and coniferous species. It forms part of the High Weald Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty
High Weald AONB
The High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is situated in south-east England. Covering an area of , it extends across the counties of Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent. It is the fourth largest Area of Outstanding Beauty in England and Wales...
, and is one of the so-called "Seven Wonders Of The Weald". Bedgebury Forest has facilities for cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
, orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
and adventure play.
History
Bedgebury is first mentioned in an Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
charter in AD 841, the name deriving from the Old English bycgan, meaning "buy", and the Kentish vecge, meaning "to bend or turn", possibly in reference to a stream.
Bedgebury Forest has always been wooded and is classed as an ancient woodland
Ancient woodland
Ancient woodland is a term used in the United Kingdom to refer specifically to woodland that has existed continuously since 1600 or before in England and Wales . Before those dates, planting of new woodland was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 was likely to have developed naturally...
. Heather
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
is present, which indicates that parts of the forest may have been managed as wooded heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
. Streams in the Forest show evidence of dams, storing water for the Wealden iron industry
Wealden iron industry
The Wealden iron industry was located in the Weald of south-eastern England. It was formerly an important industry, producing a large proportion of the bar iron made in England in the 16th century and most British cannon until about 1770. Ironmaking in the Weald used ironstone from various clay...
and later the ornamental lakes on the Bedgebury Estate.
Geography
Bedgebury Forest is located between GoudhurstGoudhurst
Goudhurst is a village in Kent on the Weald, about south of Maidstone.It stands on a crossroads , where there is a large village pond. It is also in the Cranbrook School catchment area....
, Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst
Hawkhurst is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The parish lies to the south-east of Tunbridge Wells. Hawkhurst itself is virtually two villages...
and Flimwell
Flimwell
The village of Flimwell is in the Rother District of East Sussex, in the civil parish of Ticehurst. It is located about two miles from the village of Ticehurst, close to the border with Kent...
in the High Weald of Kent. It is situated on a high plateau, amongst the rolling hills of the Wealden Group
Wealden Group
The Wealden Group is a group in the lithostratigraphy of southern England. The Wealden group consists of paralic to continental facies sedimentary rocks of Valanginian to Barremian age and thus forms part of the English Lower Cretaceous. It is composed of alternating sands and clays...
. The geology is mostly clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
and sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and the soil is poor and acidic
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
, which is the reason for the woodland's persistence: better, more accessible land was cleared for agriculture long ago. Bedgebury Forest falls within the catchment areas
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the rivers Medway
River Medway
The River Medway, which is almost entirely in Kent, England, flows for from just inside the West Sussex border to the point where it enters the Thames Estuary....
and Rother.
Activities
Bedgebury Forest is open to the public and provides facilities for cycling, mountain biking, riding, orienteering and adventure play. The network of paths and tracks that run through the forest provide opportunities for walking and running.Cycling
There is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of surfaced cycle track and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) of single-track mountain-bike routes, and a "free-ride" area has been set up that allows riders to perform jumps and stunts. The Visitor Centre provides cycles for hire. In 2006 Bedgebury Forest Cycling Club was set up.Running and orienteering
Bedgebury Forest has four orienteering routes of varying difficulty levels, designed by a British Orienteering FederationBritish Orienteering Federation
The British Orienteering Federation, sometimes branded British Orienteering, is the national sports governing body for the sport of orienteering in the United Kingdom. The federation was founded in June 1967, and is a member of the IOF...
-affiliated group. The shortest is 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi), the longest is 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi), with maps provided by the Visitor Centre. Bedgebury Forest also hosts an annual 10 km charity run.
Riding
There are dedicated way-marked horse-riding trails across the forest that link to existing bridlepaths, creating a network of horse-friendly routes. Riders must be in possession of a TROT permit.Adventure play
Bedgebury Forest has a specially designed adventure play area incorporating trails, swings, climbing walls and other child play facilities. A Go ApeGo Ape
Go Ape Ltd. is an outdoor pursuits company which runs 26 high wire adventure courses in forests in England, Scotland and Wales consisting of rope ladders, zip-lines, rope bridges, trapezes and swings...
adventure course was installed in spring 2007.